Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is the southeastern region of Asia, situated south of China, east of the Indian subcontinent, and northwest of mainland Australia. It is bordered by East Asia to the north, South Asia and the Bay of Bengal to the west, Oceania and the Pacific Ocean to the east, and Australia and the Indian Ocean to the south. The region covers about 4,500,000 km², making up 9.80% of Asia, and is home to around 676 million people, which is about 8.5% of the world's population.

Southeast Asia is culturally and ethnically very diverse, with hundreds of languages spoken across the region. Historically, it has been influenced by Indian, Chinese, Muslim, and various colonial cultures. Many countries in the region were colonised by European powers, who used the area's resources and tried to introduce their own systems. During World War II, some parts of Southeast Asia were occupied by the Empire of Japan. After the war, most of the region gained independence and is now made up of sovereign nations.

The eleven countries in Southeast Asia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), an organisation that works together on economic, political, educational, and cultural issues. The area is also known for its geological activity, with many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, especially in places like the Philippines and Indonesia.

Definition

The region of Southeast Asia was known by Europeans as the East Indies or simply the Indies until the 20th century. Chinese sources called it Nanyang, meaning the "Southern Ocean". The mainland part of Southeast Asia was called Indochina by European geographers because it lies between China and the Indian subcontinent and has cultural influences from both areas. In the 20th century, the term mostly referred to the territories of former French Indochina (Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam). The maritime part of Southeast Asia is known as the Malay Archipelago, a term from the European idea of a Malay race. Another name for Maritime Southeast Asia is Insulindia (Indian Islands), used to describe the area between Indochina and Australasia.

The term "Southeast Asia" was first used in 1839 by an American pastor named Howard Malcolm in his book Travels in South-Eastern Asia. He only included the mainland part and not the maritime part in his definition. The term became official during World War II when the Allies formed South East Asia Command (SEAC) in 1943. SEAC popularized the term "Southeast Asia", though its exact meaning changed over time. By the late 1970s, a standard definition of Southeast Asia and its countries had emerged. Today, the most common definition includes the countries listed below.

All eleven countries in Southeast Asia are members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Papua New Guinea has said it might join ASEAN and is currently an observer. There are also sovereignty issues over some islands in the South China Sea.

Political divisions

Sovereign states

* Administrative centre in Putrajaya.

Geographical divisions

Southeast Asia is split into two areas: Mainland Southeast Asia (or the Indochinese Peninsula) and Maritime Southeast Asia.

Mainland Southeast Asia includes:

Maritime Southeast Asia includes:

While Peninsular Malaysia is part of Mainland Southeast Asia, it often shares cultural ties with the islands of Maritime Southeast Asia. Some areas like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands of India and parts of Bangladesh and Northeast India are also sometimes included due to their cultural links. Occasionally, places like Hong Kong, Christmas Island, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and even Sri Lanka are considered part of Southeast Asia because of their cultural ties. Papua New Guinea and some Pacific islands like Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Palau are sometimes included for their historical and cultural connections to the region.

State	Area (km²)	Population (2025)	Density (/km²)	HDI (2023)	Capital
Brunei	5,765	455,500	77	0.837	Bandar Seri Begawan
Cambodia	181,035	17,577,760	92	0.606	Phnom Penh
Indonesia	1,904,569	284,438,782	144	0.728	Jakarta
Laos	236,800	7,647,000	31	0.617	Vientiane
Malaysia	329,847	34,231,700	102	0.819	Kuala Lumpur *
Myanmar	676,578	51,316,756	80	0.609	Nay Pyi Taw
Philippines	300,000	114,123,600	380	0.720	Manila
Singapore	719.2	6,110,200	8,261	0.946	Singapore
Thailand	513,120	65,859,640	140	0.798	Bangkok
Timor-Leste	14,874	1,391,221	89	0.634	Dili
Vietnam	331,210	101,343,800	294	0.766	Hanoi

History

Main article: History of Southeast Asia

The region of Southeast Asia has been home to humans for a very long time. Early human ancestors lived there hundreds of thousands of years ago. Over time, many different groups of people settled in the area, bringing with them their own traditions and ways of life.

In ancient times, Southeast Asia became a meeting place for many cultures. People from India brought religions like Hinduism and Buddhism, which became very important in the region. Local leaders often adopted these new beliefs to strengthen their rule and connect with other powerful states.

Later, new groups arrived from different directions. People from Taiwan began spreading out across the islands, while others came from China and other parts of Asia. Trade grew between Southeast Asia and the rest of the world, with goods moving along sea routes.

During the time when European powers began exploring the world, they arrived in Southeast Asia and set up colonies. This brought changes to the lives of many people in the region. After World War II, most Southeast Asian countries gained their independence and began to shape their own futures. Today, the countries of Southeast Asia work together through groups like ASEAN to address shared challenges and opportunities.

Geography

Southeast Asia stretches from the edges of the Tibetan Plateau in northern Myanmar. Indonesia is the largest country in Southeast Asia and also the largest archipelago in the world. The region has many volcanoes and tall mountains, including Puncak Jaya in Indonesia and Hkakabo Razi in Myanmar.

The seas around Southeast Asia include the South China Sea, Java Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, and the Andaman Sea. The Tonlé Sap lake in Cambodia is the largest freshwater lake in the area. The Mekong river is the longest river in Southeast Asia, flowing through several countries.

Boundaries

Further information: Boundaries between the continents of Earth

Geographically, Southeast Asia touches Mainland China to the north, the Indian subcontinent to the west, Micronesia to the east, and Australia to the south. The islands of Micronesia are part of Oceania, not mainland Asia.

Climate

Most of Southeast Asia has a tropical climate that is warm and wet all year. There are wet and dry seasons, caused by winds called monsoons. Some places, like northern Vietnam, have cooler temperatures, while others, like central Myanmar, are drier.

Climate change

Main article: Climate change in Asia

Southeast Asia is very affected by climate change. Rising sea levels threaten coastal cities, and changes in weather patterns can harm farming and fishing. Hotter temperatures may also affect health, especially for older people.

Environment

Southeast Asia is home to many animals, including orangutans, tigers, and Komodo dragons. The region's coral reefs are rich with marine life. However, deforestation and pollution are threats to many plants and animals. Countries in the region are working to protect their forests and wildlife.

Economy

Southeast Asia has always been important for trade. Long before Europeans arrived, people from India and Arabia were trading spices like pepper, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg from the region. Later, Spaniards, Portuguese, Dutch, British, and French all came to trade and eventually took control of lands such as Indonesia, Malaya, Indochina, and the Philippines. This led to new farms and mines to meet the world’s demand for rubber, tin, rice, and more.

The overseas Chinese community has greatly helped the economies of Southeast Asian countries. Chinese people began settling in places like Indonesia and Thailand centuries ago, and many more came after 1949. Today, countries like Malaysia and Singapore have strong economies. Tourism also plays a big role, especially in places like Cambodia and Thailand. Indonesia is now the largest economy in the region and a member of the G-20 major economies. Singapore has the highest income levels, while Malaysia offers a more affordable cost of living for its people.

Country	Currency	Population (2020)	Nominal GDP (2020) $ billion	GDP per capita (2020)	GDP growth (2020)	Inflation (2020)	Main industries
Brunei	B$ Brunei dollar	437,479	$10.647	$23,117	0.1%	0.3%	Petroleum, petrochemicals, fishing
Cambodia	៛ Riel US$ US Dollar	16,718,965	$26.316	$1,572	-2.8%	2.5%	Clothing, gold, agriculture
Indonesia	Rp Rupiah	270,203,917	$1,088.768	$4,038	-1.5%	2.1%	Coal, petroleum, palm oil
Laos	₭ Kip	7,275,560	$18.653	$2,567	0.2%	6.5%	Copper, electronics, Tin
Malaysia	RM Ringgit	32,365,999	$336.330	$10,192	-6%	-1.1%	Electronics, petroleum, petrochemicals, palm oil, automotive
Myanmar	K Kyat	54,409,800	$70.890	$1,333	2%	6.1%	Natural gas, agriculture, clothing
Philippines	₱ Peso	109,581,078	$367.362	$3,373	-8.3%	2.4%	Electronics, timber, automotive
Singapore	S$ Singapore dollar	5,850,342	$337.451	$58,484	-6%	-0.4%	Electronics, petroleum, chemicals
Thailand	฿ Baht	69,799,978	$509.200	$7,295	-7.1%	-0.4%	Electronics, automotive, rubber
Timor-Leste	US$ US dollar	1,318,445	$1.920	$1,456	-6.8%	0.9%	Petroleum, coffee, electronics
Vietnam	₫ Đồng	97,338,579	$340.602	$3,498	2.9%	3.8%	Electronics, clothing, petroleum

Energy

The need for energy in Southeast Asia grew a lot from 2003 to 2023. More people are using electricity, and many new cars and big computer centers need power too. By 2023, almost everyone in the area could use electricity, and most had ways to cook that were better for the air.

Most of the energy still comes from fuels that burn, like coal, which is used a lot for making electricity. Some countries plan to use even more coal in the future, even though they want to use cleaner energy too. The area imports oil but exports natural gas, which is used to make electricity and heat.

Renewable energy, like sunlight and wind, is growing but still not used as much as it could be. Countries in the area hope to use more of these clean energy sources by 2030, especially by building more solar and wind farms.

Demographics

Southeast Asia covers about 4.5 million square kilometers and is home to around 676 million people. Over 143 million of these people live on the island of Java in Indonesia, making it one of the most crowded places in the world. Indonesia itself has the most people, with around 274 million, which is about 40% of the region's total population.

The region is very diverse, with many different ethnic groups. Major groups include Austronesian, Austroasiatic, Tai, and Tibeto-Burman peoples. Smaller groups like Hmong-Mien, Chinese, Dravidians, Indo-Aryans, Eurasians, and Papuans also add to this variety. The Javanese are the largest group, with over 100 million people, mostly in Java. The Vietnamese follow with around 86 million, mainly in Vietnam but also in nearby countries. The Thais are the third largest group, with about 59 million people, mostly in Thailand.

Indonesia has many ethnic groups spread across its many islands, such as the Madurese, Minangkabau, Acehnese, Bugis, Balinese, Makassarese, Dayak, Minahasan, Batak, Malay, Betawi, Torajan, and Ambonese. In Malaysia, the population includes Malays, Chinese, other Bumiputeras, and Indians. In the Philippines, there are several large groups like the Visayans, Tagalogs, Ilocanos, and Bicolanos, along with smaller groups such as the Moro peoples. In mainland Southeast Asia, the Burmese make up most of Myanmar's population, but there are also groups like the Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Chin, Kayah, and Rohingya. Thailand's largest group is the Thais, but there are also many other groups like the Patani Malays, Northern Khmers, Karen, Hmongs, and Chinese. Cambodia is mostly Khmer, but also has Chams, Vietnamese, and various hill tribes.

Country	Religions
Brunei	Islam (81%), Buddhism, Christianity, others (indigenous beliefs, etc.)
Cambodia	Buddhism (97%), Islam, Christianity, Animism, others
Indonesia	Islam (87%), Protestantism (7.6%), Roman Catholicism (3.12%), Hinduism (1.74%), Buddhism (0.77%), Confucianism (0.03%), others (0.4%)
Laos	Buddhism (67%), Animism, Christianity, others
Malaysia	Islam (61.3%), Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Animism
Myanmar (Burma)	Buddhism (89%), Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Animism, others
Philippines	Roman Catholicism (80.6%), Islam (6.9%-11%), Evangelicals (2.7%), Iglesia ni Cristo (Church of Christ) (2.4%), Members Church of God International (1.0%), Other Protestants (2.8%), Buddhism (0.05%-2%), Animism (0.2%-1.25%), others (1.9%)
Singapore	Buddhism (31.1%), Christianity (18.9%), Islam (15.6%), Taoism (8.8%), Hinduism (5%), others (20.6%)
Thailand	Buddhism (93.5%), Islam (5.4%), Christianity (1.13%), Hinduism (0.02%), others (0.003%)
Timor-Leste	Roman Catholicism (97%), Protestantism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism
Vietnam	Vietnamese folk religion (45.3%), Buddhism (16.4%), Christianity (8.2%), Other (0.4%), Unaffiliated (29.6%)

Country/Region	Languages
Brunei	Malay, English, Chinese, Tamil, Indonesian and indigenous Bornean dialects (Iban, Murutic language, Lun Bawang.)
Cambodia	Khmer, English, French, Teochew, Vietnamese, Cham, Mandarin, others
Indonesia	Indonesian, Javanese, Sundanese, Batak, Minangkabau, Buginese, Banjar, Papuan, Dayak, Acehnese, Ambonese, Balinese, Betawi, Madurese, Musi, Manado, Sasak, Makassarese, Batak Dairi, Karo, Mandailing, Jambi Malay, Mongondow, Gorontalo, Ngaju, Kenyah, Nias, North Moluccan, Uab Meto, Bima, Manggarai, Toraja-Sa'dan, Komering, Tetum, Rejang, Muna, Sumbawa, Bangka Malay, Osing, Gayo, Bungku-Tolaki languages, Moronene, Bungku, Bahonsuai, Kulisusu, Wawonii, Mori Bawah, Mori Atas, Padoe, Tomadino, Lewotobi, Tae', Mongondow, Lampung, Tolaki, Ma'anyan, Simeulue, Gayo, Buginese, Mandar, Minahasan, Enggano, Ternate, Tidore, Mairasi, East Cenderawasih Language, Lakes Plain Languages, Tor-Kwerba, Nimboran, Skou/Sko, Border languages, Senagi, Pauwasi, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka, Teochew, Tamil, Punjabi, and Arabic. Indonesia has over 700 languages in over 17,000 islands across the archipelago, making Indonesia the second most linguistically diverse country on the planet, slightly behind Papua New Guinea. The official language of Indonesia is Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia), widely used in educational, political, economic, and other formal situations. In daily activities and informal situations, most Indonesians speak in their local language(s). For more details, see: Languages of Indonesia.
Laos	Lao, French, Thai, Vietnamese, Khmu, Hmong, Phuthai, Bru, Tai Lü, Akha, Iu Mien and others
Malaysia	Malaysian, English, Mandarin, Tamil, Daro-Matu, Kedah Malay, Sabah Malay, Brunei Malay, Kelantan Malay, Pahang Malay, Acehnese, Javanese, Minangkabau, Banjar, Buginese, Tagalog, Hakka, Cantonese, Hokkien, Teochew, Fuzhounese, Telugu, Bengali, Punjabi, Sinhala, Malayalam, Arabic, Brunei Bisaya, Okolod, Kota Marudu Talantang, Kelabit, Lotud, Terengganu Malay, Semelai, Thai, Iban, Kadazan, Dusun, Kristang, Bajau, Jakun, Mah Meri, Batek, Melanau, Semai, Temuan, Lun Bawang, Temiar, Penan, Tausug, Iranun, Lundayeh/Lun Bawang, and others see: Languages of Malaysia
Myanmar (Burma)	Burmese, Shan, Kayin (Karen), Rakhine, Kachin, Chin, Mon, Kayah, Mandarin, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu and other ethnic languages.
Philippines	Filipino (Tagalog), English, Bisayan languages (Aklanon, Cebuano, Kinaray-a, Capiznon, Hiligaynon, Waray, Masbateño, Romblomanon, Cuyonon, Surigaonon, Butuanon, Tausug), Ivatan, Ilocano, Ibanag, Pangasinan, Kapampangan, Bikol, Sama-Bajaw, Maguindanao, Maranao, Spanish, Chavacano and others see: Languages of the Philippines
Singapore	English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese, Tamil, Hokkien, Teochew, Cantonese, Hakka, Japanese, Telugu, Malayalam, Punjabi, Indonesian, Boyanese, Buginese, Javanese, Balinese, Singlish creole and others see: Languages of Singapore
Thailand	Thai, Isan, Northern Khmer, Malay, Karen, Hmong, Teochew, Minnan, Hakka, Yuehai, Burmese, Iu Mien, Tamil, Bengali, Urdu, Arabic, Shan, Tai Lü, Phuthai, Mon and others
Timor-Leste	Portuguese, Tetum, Mambae, Makasae, Tukudede, Bunak, Galoli, Kemak, Fataluku, Baikeno, others
Vietnam	Vietnamese, Cantonese, Khmer, Hmong, Tày, Cham and others

Culture

The culture in Southeast Asia is very different in each place. On the mainland, you can find a mix of Burmese, Cambodian, Laotian, Thai, and Vietnamese cultures. In places like Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia, the culture mixes indigenous Austronesian traditions with Indian, Islamic, Western, and Chinese influences. Brunei shows strong Arabian influence. Vietnam and Singapore have more Chinese influence because of their history and large Chinese communities.

Rice farming has been important in Southeast Asia for thousands of years. Some of the most famous rice fields are the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines. Living in stilt houses is common across the region, from Thailand to Papua New Guinea. Southeast Asia is also known for its metalwork, including weapons like the kris and musical instruments such as the gamelan.

Influences

The main cultural influences in Southeast Asia come from Islam, India, and China. You can see this in many ways, like how some people eat with their hands (influenced by India) and others use chopsticks (influenced by China). Tea is a popular drink everywhere in the region.

Arts

Southeast Asian arts share similarities with arts from other parts of the world. Dance is important, with hand and foot movements telling stories. The Cambodian royal ballet is a famous example. Puppets and shadow plays, like Indonesia's wayang, have been popular for centuries. Many arts and stories in the region were influenced by Hinduism.

Music

Main article: Music of Southeast Asia

Traditional music in Southeast Asia varies a lot. Common types include court music, folk music, and music from smaller groups. Gong chime ensembles, gamelan orchestras from Indonesia, and piphat ensembles from Thailand and Cambodia are some of the most famous. String instruments are also popular.

On 18 November 2010, UNESCO officially recognised the angklung as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Writing

Main articles: Writing systems of Southeast Asia, Baybayin, Jawi script, S.E.A. Write Award, and Thai alphabet

Southeast Asia has many different writing systems. Some of the earliest came from India, like the Balinese script written on palm leaves called lontar. These writings are very old, from before paper was invented in China.

In places like Malaysia, Brunei, and Singapore, people now mostly write in the Latin alphabet. In Indonesia, spelling can be different from Malay. Chinese characters are used in Vietnam and, more recently, in Singapore and Malaysia. Vietnam once used a special script called chữ Nôm to write its language.